Community Paramedicine

Matt Cruchet is a Commander with the County of Renfrew Paramedic Service in Ontario, where he holds responsibility for Program Development and Education. He is an Advanced Care Paramedic with a decade of experience as a community paramedic, working primarily within a rural Family Health Team. He has also provided care in Indigenous community health clinics during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. His work in Renfrew County received national recognition when featured on CBC's White Coat, Black Art.Matt developed the education curriculum for the Virtual Triage and Assessment Centre (VTAC) that prepared paramedics to work in the clinic environment within the programme. This curriculum drew on international primary care paramedic models, including many presented in this book. He has contributed to paramedicine standards and education at provincial, national, and international levels, including the Ontario Community Paramedic Competency Framework, the National Competency Framework for Paramedics (CSA Z1660), the National HSO Healthcare Education standard (CAN/HSO 40001:2026), the interRAI Community Paramedicine Contact Assessment Form and User's Manual, and courses within Monash University's Master of Specialist Paramedic Practice.Matt holds a Master of Science in Medical Education and is a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Educators. He is committed to developing paramedic roles within integrated healthcare delivery, particularly in communities where access to primary care remains limited.Shannon Leduc is a Canadian paramedic leader, researcher, and educator whose work sits at the intersection of paramedic practice, health system innovation, and scholarship. As Commander of Clinical Programs at the Ottawa Paramedic Service, she has led the development, launch, and scaling of a range of innovative programs, including community paramedicine initiatives, alternative care pathways, and collaborative models designed to support patients outside of traditional emergency department care.With a background as an Advanced Care Paramedic and graduate training in epidemiology, Shannon brings both operational and scholarly perspectives to the evolution of the profession. She is an Adjunct Professor with the University of Ottawa’s School of Epidemiology and Public Health, Affiliate Investigator with the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, and a PhD student in Paramedicine at Monash University. Her academic and leadership work is centered on community paramedicine, health system integration, and the evolving role of paramedics within the health system.

• Introduction Chapter 1 – Professional ConsiderationsGeorgette EatonChapter 2 – Consultation Skills and the Diagnostic ProcessTom MallinsonChapter 3 – Decision-making TheoryJaqualine LindridgeChapter 4 – Laboratory InvestigationsColin RobertsChapter 5 – Neurological PresentationsChris McGregor and Georgette EatonChapter 6 – Mental Health PresentationsAnita CawleyChapter 7 – Eyes, Ears, Nose and Throat PresentationsAjay Bhatt and Georgette EatonChapter 8 – Respiratory PresentationsMarc Gildas ThomasChapter 9 – Cardiovascular PresentationsJessica WillettsChapter 10 – Gastrointestinal and Hepatic PresentationsAnt KitchenerChapter 11 – Genitourinary and Gynaecological PresentationsSarah Brown and Elizabeth SteerChapter 12 – Contraception and Sexual HealthAlyesha ProctorChapter 13 – Obstetric PresentationsAimee YarringtonChapter 14 – Musculoskeletal PresentationsSarah Jardine and Georgette EatonChapter 15 – Dermatological PresentationsVanessa SmeardonChapter 16 – Endocrine PresentationsAnt KitchenerChapter 17 – Palliative and End-of-Life Care PresentationsCheryl Cameron, Karina Catley and Joseph FrancisChapter 18 – A Note on Assessing and Managing Chronic PainJim Huddy and Keith MitchellChapter 19 – Making Every Contact Count: Health Promotion in Primary CareAndrew HichissonChapter 20 – Home Visits and Community-Based CareMatt Cruchet